MEMBER for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall has today invited residents across the region to have their say on proposed changes to strata law in NSW.
This followed an announcement by the NSW Minister responsible for Fair Trading Victor Dominello, who released two exposure draft bills recently for final consultation, to reform strata living in the state.
Mr Marshall said this was an important opportunity for the public to have their final say on the drafting of more than 90 proposed changes to improve strata living including the perennial issues of parking, pets and passive smoking.
“The most important objective of these reforms is to improve strata living, minimise regulatory burden and improve democratic processes,” Mr Marshall said.
“I want to encourage people across the Northern Tablelands to take this opportunity to have their say.”
Mr Marshall said NSW introduced its first strata laws back in 1961.
“These original laws were designed for small, simple, self-managed blocks of flats and while the laws have been updated over time they do not properly reflect the reality of strata living today,” he said.
“Over two million people, accounting for almost 25% of Greater Sydney’s population, live in more than 75,000 strata and community schemes across the state, with $350 billion in total assets.
“Today, townhouses, dual occupancies, offices, retirement villages, mixed use and tourism developments dominate the strata landscape.
“Other areas of reform include renewal, renovations, defects, dispute resolution, and model by-laws.”
The draft Strata Schemes Management and Strata Schemes Development Bills are open for feedback until Wednesday, 12 August 2015. The two bills will then be introduced to State Parliament later this year.
The draft bills are available at www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au. Comments and submissions can be made by emailing policy@finance.nsw.gov.au by Wednesday, 12 August 2015.